July 3, 2011 -- Updated 1853 GMT (0253 HKT)
Thomas Levet is a possible European Ryder Cup captain after winning on the course that will host the 2018 event.
(CNN) -- Veteran Frenchman Thomas Levet claimed an emotional first-ever victory in his home tournament at Le Golf National, as a final round 70 gave him a one-stroke win in the French Open.
The 42-year-old, who was securing his fifth European Tour success but his first since the 2009 Spanish Open, finished on a seven-under-par total of 277 to edge out Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark (70) -- who missed a putt for par at the last to force a play-off -- and Englishman Mark Foster (74).
A full 25 years after first competing on France's flagship course, which recently won the right to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup, Levet became only the second French winner of the tournament following Jean-Francois Remesy's victories in 2004 and 2005.
Levet, who is already being touted as a possible European captain for that year's Ryder Cup, told the official European Tour website: "All of my friends were here in the crowd. It's always nice to win in front of your home crowd and the way it went was just like a dream.
"I felt like the Tour de France riders climbing some of the mountains, with the public all around me shouting my name," Levet continued.
"It was quite crazy from yesterday's first hole to today's last hole, great atmosphere. You can tell your friends, 2018, France is ready," added Levet, whose win ensured he qualified for this month's British Open at Royal St George's despite only being ranked 352nd in the world.
Levet's triumph, on the back of three consistent rounds of 70 and a superb third round four-under-par 67, came in sharp contrast to the final round performances of joint overnight leaders Foster and James Morrison.
Morrison, winner of the 2010 Madeira Islands, found water early in his round and never recovered, slumping to a seven-over-par 78 to finish joint seventh.
Meanwhile, Foster, who had carded three successive rounds of 68, parred his first 11 holes before a double bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 13th saw him slip off the top of the leaderboard.
Tournament favorite and world number four Martin Kaymer was another player to disappoint in his final round, posting a two-over-par 73 to finish three shots behind Levet in fourth position.
However, the Swede's performance means he has still done enough to move up a place to third position in the world when the latest rankings are released.
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
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